Compositions and methods for enhancing immune responses to vaccines

Abstract

The disclosure provides adjuvants, immunogenic compositions, and methods useful for vaccination and immune response. In particular, the disclosure provides a class of adjuvants comprising cationic lipid:co-lipid mixtures and methods for delivering formulated compositions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for immunizing a vertebrate comprising administering to the vertebrate an immunogenic composition in an amount sufficient to generate an immune response comprising one or more immunogens, and an adjuvant composition comprising a mixture of one or more compounds, wherein the compound is: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         and one or more co-lipids. 
       
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the co-lipid is a neutral lipid. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the neutral lipid is a phosphatidylethanolamine, and/or a phosphatidylcholine, and/or a mono-, di-, or trialkylglycerol, and/or a mono-, di-, or triacylglycerol. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the phosphatidylethanolamine is 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) and/or 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DPyPE), and/or 1,2-dimyristoyl-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DMPE). 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the phosphatidylethanolamine is 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DPyPE). 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound and the co-lipid are in molar ratio of from about 9:1 to about 1:9. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound and the co-lipid are in molar ratio of from about 2:1 to about 1:2. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the compound and DPyPE are in molar ratio of about 1:1. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the immunogen is one or more immunogen-encoding polynucleotides, peptides or polypeptides, or polysaccharides. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administration is intradermal. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administration is into a tissue or cavity of the vertebrate.